William Joseph Condon
Encyclopedia
William Joseph Condon was an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Bishop of Great Falls
from 1939 until his death in 1967.
, to Patrick and Mary Elizabeth (née Kavanaugh) Condon. He graduated from St. Patrick's Seminary
in Menlo Park
, California
, in 1917. He was ordained
to the priesthood
on October 14, 1917. He then served as a curate
at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes
in Spokane
until 1918, when he furthered his studies at Gonzaga University
.
Condon earned a Bachelor of Arts
degree from Gonzaga in 1919, and then served as pastor
of St. Joseph's Church in Waterville
for four years. From 1923 to 1929, he was rector
of Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral. While serving as pastor of St. Augustine's Church in Spokane between 1929 and 1939, he was also secretary
to Bishop Charles Daniel White
(1928-1932), and chancellor
(1927-1939) and vicar general
(1933-1939) of the Diocese of Spokane
.
On August 5, 1939, Condon was appointed the third Bishop of Great Falls
, Montana
, by Pope Pius XII
. He received his episcopal
consecration
on the following October 18 from Bishop Charles White, with Bishops Joseph Francis McGrath
and Edward Kelly
serving as co-consecrators
. He was installed in St. Ann's Cathedral
on October 26, 1939. He led the diocese for twenty-seven years, the longest-serving bishop of the diocese. Between 1962 and 1965, he attended the Second Vatican Council
.
Condon died at age 72, and is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery
in Great Falls
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He served as Bishop of Great Falls
Roman Catholic Diocese of Great Falls-Billings
The Diocese of Great Falls-Billings is the Catholic diocese of eastern Montana, established in 1904.Pope Pius X erected the "Diocese of Great Falls" on May 18, 1904, by dividing the Diocese of Helena, which previously comprised the entire state....
from 1939 until his death in 1967.
Biography
William Condon was born in Colton, WashingtonColton, Washington
Colton is a town in Whitman County, Washington, United States. The population was 418 at the 2010 census.- History :Colton was first settled in 1879 by J.A. Cole, and was founded in 1882 by J.B. Stanley. Colton was incorporated in 1890 however it was not recorded until 1893.-Notable natives:*...
, to Patrick and Mary Elizabeth (née Kavanaugh) Condon. He graduated from St. Patrick's Seminary
Saint Patrick Seminary, Menlo Park
Saint Patrick's Seminary and University in Menlo Park, California is a Roman Catholic post-graduate seminary whose primary mission is the formation of clergy for Western and Pacific Rim dioceses, orders, religious congregations and secular institutes...
in Menlo Park
Menlo Park, California
Menlo Park, California is a city at the eastern edge of San Mateo County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, in the United States. It is bordered by San Francisco Bay on the north and east; East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, and Stanford to the south; Atherton, North Fair Oaks, and Redwood City...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, in 1917. He was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on October 14, 1917. He then served as a curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes
Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes (Spokane, Washington)
The Cathedral of Our Lady Lourdes is a Catholic cathedral in Spokane, Washington, United States. It is the seat of the Diocese of Spokane.-History:...
in Spokane
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
until 1918, when he furthered his studies at Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University is a private Roman Catholic university located in Spokane, Washington, United States. Founded in 1887 by the Society of Jesus, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and is named after the young Jesuit saint, Aloysius Gonzaga...
.
Condon earned a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from Gonzaga in 1919, and then served as pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of St. Joseph's Church in Waterville
Waterville, Washington
Waterville is a town in and the county seat of Douglas County, Washington, United States. It is part of the Wenatchee–East Wenatchee Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,138 at the 2010 census.-History:...
for four years. From 1923 to 1929, he was rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral. While serving as pastor of St. Augustine's Church in Spokane between 1929 and 1939, he was also secretary
Secretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
to Bishop Charles Daniel White
Charles Daniel White
Charles Daniel White was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Spokane from 1927 until his death in 1955.-Biography:...
(1928-1932), and chancellor
Chancellor (ecclesiastical)
Two quite distinct officials of some Christian churches have the title Chancellor.*In some churches, the Chancellor of a diocese is a lawyer who represents the church in legal matters....
(1927-1939) and vicar general
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
(1933-1939) of the Diocese of Spokane
Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane
The Diocese of Spokane is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. state of Washington. Headquartered in Spokane, the diocese encompasses Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Lincoln, Spokane, Adams, Whitman, Franklin, Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin Counties...
.
On August 5, 1939, Condon was appointed the third Bishop of Great Falls
Roman Catholic Diocese of Great Falls-Billings
The Diocese of Great Falls-Billings is the Catholic diocese of eastern Montana, established in 1904.Pope Pius X erected the "Diocese of Great Falls" on May 18, 1904, by dividing the Diocese of Helena, which previously comprised the entire state....
, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, by Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
. He received his episcopal
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
on the following October 18 from Bishop Charles White, with Bishops Joseph Francis McGrath
Joseph Francis McGrath
Joseph Francis McGrath was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Baker City, Oregon from 1919 to 1950.-Biography:...
and Edward Kelly
Edward Kelly (bishop)
Edward Joseph Kelly was an American Roman Catholic clergyman.Kelly was born in The Dalles, Oregon, to James Leo and Henrietta Kelly. He received his early education at in his native city, and made his classical studies at Columbia University in Portland. He began his studies for the priesthood...
serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
. He was installed in St. Ann's Cathedral
St. Ann's Cathedral (Great Falls, Montana)
St. Ann's Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral in Great Falls, Montana, United States. Along with St. Patrick's Co-Cathedral in Billings, Montana it is the seat of the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings.-St. Ann's Parish:...
on October 26, 1939. He led the diocese for twenty-seven years, the longest-serving bishop of the diocese. Between 1962 and 1965, he attended the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
.
Condon died at age 72, and is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery
Mount Olivet Cemetery
Mount Olivet Cemetery may refer to:In Canada:* Mount Olivet Cemetery-Halifax, Nova ScotiaIn the United States:* Mount Olivet Cemetery , California* Mount Olivet Cemetery , Colorado* Mount Olivet Cemetery , Connecticut...
in Great Falls
Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
.